Scientists have found an explanation for the unusual phenomenon in the Finnish cave of Pirunkirkko

Scientists explain the sounds made from the Finnish cave Pirunkirkko

Researchers from the University of Eastern Finland have found out why tourists hear loud noises, clattering hooves or archery in the Pirunkirkko cave.

There are legends that sages came to the cave to talk with the spirits of the past. The name of one of these petitioners has also been preserved – the shaman and healer Kinolainen. He brought patients to Pirunkirkko and, after performing magical rituals, asked the “devil” for advice about their treatment. All this was accompanied by unusual sounds that were supposedly made by the cave itself. However, scientists doubted the truth of these legends.

The cave itself resembles a long corridor with smooth walls. When carrying out acoustic measurements, scientists recorded the phenomenon of strong resonance inside the tourist site. This is due to the vertical sound wave that appears between the parallel edges of the cave.

The study said that the natural gorge tone of 231 hertz remained audible for a couple of seconds after the sharp pulses. Hand clapping, drumming, or loud banging could be heard. Afterwards, scientists recorded practicing shamans inside the cave and found that they also made sounds with the same frequency of 231 hertz. Next, the cave amplified them at their natural frequency.

Resonance can be found more often in an artificial environment, but in nature such a phenomenon is rare. This is due to the fact that in the natural habitat there are few places with smooth, hard and parallel surfaces.

As a result of the research, it became clear that the insistent tones were heard due to the rituals performed by the spellcasters in the Finnish cave.